I’m afraid I did not finish this book. I found it hard to relate and empathise with the main lead Nicole and found her and her friends quite unbelievable . I’m sure I will be in the minority and it will do well, but it was not for me this time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book. Nicole somewhat impulsively buys a cottage with plans to move for the summer. When she gets there, she meets a fanatic group of neighbors, which including Declan. They have an instant connection but neither are looking for a relationship so they try to fight it. I loved that this was a more mature story and group of characters, but still brought heat. Definitely recommend this book.

I loved this book! Nic was such a relatable character, in my opinion. Dealing with a lot of insecurities that moms, and divorced moms deal with. But Declan was just just so wonderful! They really brought out the best in each other. Who doesn’t need an adventure buddy:)?!

A heartwarming story of finding love when you least expect it. Nicole and her besties come to a small coastal town to get away from everyday life and for Nicole to find the inspiration to get out of her writer's block. Along the way Nicole and Declan become friends and take their buddy/buddy relationship into lovers - giving them both what they needed but never expected. With great characters and a light hearted enjoyable storyline this will become another Melissa Foster favorite.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Nicole (aka Nic) and Declan had amazing chemistry together. The cookie caper had me laughing so hard! I loved their adventures! This was a great start to a new series. I am curious who else will get books.

Hot Mess Summer is yet another amazing Melissa Foster book. It is a sizzling summer read about new beginnings .
Nicole, an author who is looking for a change buys a summer house on a whim so she can find some writing inspiration. She quickly find a group of friends and a hot older guy who becomes her “adventure buddy” . She quickly learns that she needs to enjoy her life instead of worrying about her grown daughter and her mom all the time.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an arc for my opinion.

The charm of Cape Cod spoke to Nicole as she imagined starting over in a new place where no one knew her business and it didn’t take long for her to find the perfect cozy cottage for her summer getaway.The peacefulness of the area was the perfect setting for her to begin working on her new book. I love Cape Cod and I can see why Nicole was drawn to all that the Cape had to offer. My dream has always been to have a house on the Cape and with Ms. Foster’s new book. “Hot Mess Summer” I was able to live vicariously through Nicole as she made new friends, explored her new town and fell in love.

Nicole and Declan met at a time in their lives when they both needed a friend. Nicole had recently been divorced and wanted to find herself before jumping into another relationship. Declan’s life was filled with running his own business and taking care of various family members who always called him for help. He was drawn to Nicole’s carefree personality, her adventurous spirit and her ability to make him wish for things he couldn’t have.To me, Declan could be the leading man in any romance novel. He is handsome, thoughtful, and plays a mean guitar; what more could a woman want? Nicole was mesmerized by Declan’s mischievous nature, his charming personality and the ease at which they quickly became friends. Their connection only grew stronger and to me, romance was in the air as the ocean breezes caressed them while they relaxed on the deck, gazing at the stars. Nicole and Declan’s story will stay with you long after the sun has set over the shores of Cape Cod.

Hot Mess Summer begins with Nicole moving to her new summer cottage in Chatemup. Nicole is finally on the healed side of her divorce and is ready to start new in a place that doesn't include her ex-husband and all of his friends. What she finds is a loving, embracing community that makes her feel a part of something that she hasn't felt in a long, long time. Add to that a friendship with Declan that turns into something more and you really do have a wonderful love story by Melissa Foster. I usually skip sections of books that don't hold my attention - I did not do that with this book. It did have a slower start, but by 25% I was very invested in Nicole and whom she might end up with as a fun times buddy-since she wasn't wanting a relationship after her divorce. I highly recommend this book and give it a strong 5 stars. So very good!

The hot mess express has rolled into the station and collided with a secondary hot mess express. Loved it. I LOLd, I felt the feels, there was some spicy moments that were so appreciated!

I want an adventure buddy like Declan. I’ve read a lot of Melissa Foster books and Declan is one of my favorite Melissa Foster heroes. Top 3 for sure, and just might be #1. I enjoyed reading a story about people with life experience and complicated family relationships. Finding YOUR people means so much - never underestimate that! I highly recommend this book - 5 stars!

If you've ever been divorced, separated, or been in a relationship where your entire sense of self is destroyed through a death of a thousand tiny cuts, you need to read Hot Mess Summer! It's uplifting, inspiring, and totally swoony.

Nicole and Declan are the perfect Adventure Buddies. She recently fell back in love with herself after a soul-crushing failed marriage, and he's a perpetual bachelor who loves to help the people from their small community.

They have a meet-cute involving coffee, a younger man, and dimples, and their friendship builds slowly but steadily, creating a stable foundation for romance.

<i>“You are my greatest adventure.”</i>

I love that Nic and Declan were friends first. So few books show how difficult it is to rebuild yourself after a failed marriage, and Nic needed the extra time before she jumped into a relationship. I also love how the physical aspects of being an older mother (she's almost 40 which is practically ancient in Romancelandia) are discussed. Our bodies don't magically go back to how they were after having a kiddo, and seeing Nic struggle with those insecurities made her even more relatable.

Hot Mess Summer is one of my top reads this month. It has a robust cast of side characters you'll love, and a seriously loveable cinnamon roll hero who refuses to act his age.

Thank you, Melissa Foster and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an absolute delight from start to finish! From the moment I dove into the pages of this book, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Foster has proven her talent for crafting heartfelt and steamy romances that capture the essence of summer.

The story is a perfect blend of romance, humor and personal growthy. The characters are incredibly relatable and endearing, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys. The chemistry between the protagonists is scorching hot, and the banter between them is both witty and charming. I found myself laughing, swooning, and even shedding a tear or two as I followed their adventures.

This was a five-star gem that I definitely recommend to romance enthusiasts and anyone in need of a perfect summer escape. Foster really shines as a romance author, and this book is a perfect example of her talent.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this story for a honest unbiased review!

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Thank you yo Montlake and Netgalley for my ARC!

First off, I loved the setting and premise of this book. It showed lots of promise, however, I could not get past the dialogue between the characters, which seemed inappropriate for their age. I am close to the age of these characters, and I cannot imagine women my age talking to each other in this childish way. I’m all for having fun with your girlfriends, but these women acted liked they were in their early 20s at most. Also, there were similar issues with the FMC, who was trying to be serious and give herself time to heal and focus on her writing post-divorce, but then she practically swooned every time the MMC was around. It just became hard for me to focus and take this story seriously.

These feedback and my personal opinions, and I do think many readers might really connect with this story.

I loved this book. I’m always looking for books with older characters who have lived a little and have realistic complications. It did take a minute to connect to the story but once I did, it flew by.
Both of these characters are caretakers. They’ve been let down in relationships and have decided it’s not for them. From the moment they meet, they’re pulled together. Friendship can be all they have, right?
This book is fun and sexy. It’s got great balance and also deals with some serious subjects.

This book is unlike any other Melissa Foster book I've ever read. It's equally sexy, funny and beautiful and deals with life after divorce. Declan is like chocolate to Nicole- one bite is never enough. These two are at the right time and right place to be ready for each other. I can't sing the praises of this book highly enough and I thoroughly recommend that you take a chance and read this wonderful book.

Hot Mess Summer was a delightful, funny and heartfelt romantic comedy that was far from a mess.

In a nutshell: Melissa, a romance author, is a bit stressed out and looking for a fresh start after her second divorce. What does she do? She buys a cottage on a whim in a small New England fishing village in the hopes of kicking her writers block to the curb and hopefully, finally, putting the pieces of herself back together.

I’m always a sucker for small towns, a loveable cast of characters and some good steam, and this book delivered on all fronts. Bonus points for older characters ( late 30’s and 40’s) and the way their relationship developed so naturally. This was a bit like an adult coming of age story that shows you that you’re never too old to have some fun/adventures and finally finding that happy place post divorce, raising kids and all that messy adulting stuff 🙄.
4.25⭐️

HOT MESS SUMMER is a spicy fast-friends to lovers story of a romance writer navigating dating after divorce. Nicole has been through marriage and divorce twice already, so she's knows what she will no longer tolerate when it comes to relationships. She's not willing to catch feelings for someone who isn't ready to full jump in, even if it's with a handsome, fish peddler named Declan who can always put a smile on Nicole's face... or will their attraction be too hard to resist? They become fast of friends and bond over being parents to young adults, yet Declan drops everything to run and help his troubled father and ex-wife, at the expense of cutting his time off with Nicole, making her leery of getting any closer. What will it take for them to realize they have a connection that is worth pursuing?

I appreciated the ending and how the author let the characters decide how they were going to end it. Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the digital advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 starts rounded to 4.

I am pretty sure I just found my next binge read. I loved everything about this story. The author wrote a terrific story that I felt part of. It is relatable for people to imagine and think about. Restarting your life, or I should say focusing on oneself and life again, meeting new people and finally connect with your person. The characters had me laughing and falling in love right along with them. Nicole and Declan are perfection. I recommend you click immediately and start reading. I’m off to read other books by her.

4 ½ Stars for Dimple Dude and Writer Girl!

I love a mature romance when people have a second chance at finding love and happiness. I thought that Nicole was brave to change her life completely by moving away from the only place she's ever known. Then there's Declan ... who wouldn't love a silver hunk with a heart of gold? No really ... who? I did find that there were a lot of characters to keep track of and some of them didn't add anything to the story. But I loved the real life situations that Nicole and Declan had to deal with ... Nicole's daughter and Declan's dad not wanting to take responsibility for their actions. A great read that shouldn't be missed!

Nicole is a divorced author who buys a summer house where she can hopefully get rid of her writer's block. She meets a community of people who are like a family ... and she wants to be part of that family. But the guy with the dimples (who she spilled coffee all over) makes her heart flutter. Declan is the town's knight in shining armour. He's always thinking about other people, his dad, his employees, and his ex-wife. He knows he shouldn't get involved with new girl with the wild hair ... but she is all he can think about. Will Nicole and Declan be able to ignore the outside forces that are keeping this relationship from developing? Or are they willing to think of themselves for once?

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley.